Pump



Aug. 11, 1936. J. A. SIV=ENCER PUMP Original Filed Oct. 17, 1932 ILIL Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 17, 1932, Serial No. 638,074 Renewed November 6, 1935 9 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps, and with regard to certain more specific features, to pumps for refrigerators and analogous uses.

Among the several objects of the invention 5 may be noted the provision of a pump which is particularly adapted to pump gases, vapors, and the like; the provision of a pump of the class described which functions electrically and with but few mechanical moving parts, having no pis- 10 tons, connecting rods, cranks or the like; and

the provision of the apparatus of the class described which shall be highly. efiicient, simple in construction and operation and of long life. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part 15 pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

25 Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a single stage modification of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a multi-stage modification of the invention; and,

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a modified form 30 of valve structure.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing. I

While I do not wish to be limited to refrig- 35 erators in the application of the pump herein described, there can be produced by the use of the invention refrigerators and'similar machines of great mechanical simplicity, high efliciency and low first-cost. I shall therefore describe the 40 invention as applied to refrigerators.

The chief problem in making a simple and efficient refrigerator of the compression type is the pump which pumps the vapor from the evaporator into the condenser. This invention operates by heating the vapor or the like which is being. pumped, this being done by means of an electric discharge passing through the vapor ancording-t a novel method.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, numeral I illustrates an evaporator containing a liquid 3 which for certain purposes may be pure water. At 5 is shown an inlet valve passing vapor only in the direction of the arrow. 55 It may consist of a porous'diaphragm 1 -(filter stone, for instance) on the top of which rests a thin layer of mercury 9.

At l l is shown a glass tube with two electrodes l3 and 15, shown here as hollow cylinders or cups of nickel. An electric discharge is passed 5 between l3 and 15, by means of a high voltage transformer ll. At 19 is shown an outlet valve from the tube ll similar to valve 5. 2| is a condenser for condensing water vapor. 23 is a return pipe for the liquid. The tube l l is shown vertically in the illustration but may as well be horizontal.

The entire apparatus may be made of glass and is substantially freed of air and other gases except the working vapor (water vapor in this example). When the circuit 25 of the transformer primary is closed, the transformer causes a discharge to pass between the electrodes l3 and [5. The discharge, which is in the form of an electric spark, causes an increase in pressure of the vapor or fluid in the chamber for two reasons. First, through the operation of the pressure-vo1ume-temperature laws, the pressure is increased (the volume remaining constant) by the rise in temperature occasioned by the direct heating effect of the electric discharge. Second, the pressure is increased by the restricted volume increase occasioned by the direct ionization of the fluid into its component elements under the considerable ionization potential of the discharge. One volume of water vapor, for example, ionizes to one volume of oxygen and two volumes of hydrogen, a total volume increase of 300% (assuming complete ionization) according to the reaction:

Since no volume increase is in fact permitted in the chamber, this ionization resolves into a pressure increase of comparable value. Of course, in practice complete ionization is not secured, but it does take place to an extent sufficient appreciably to enhance the direct heating effect of the discharge in causing the desired pressure increase.

The resultant increase in pressure forces vapor into the condenser ill by way of valve l9 and. also forces down mercury 21 in leg 29 of the switch 33. It will be noted that the U-tube 35 comprising the holder for mercury 21 is closed off by an enlarged chamber 31 which by introducing a large volume reduces the back pressure in the switch with a consequent quicker response of the switch. I This breaks the current in the circuit at contacts 3|. When the cur- 5 rent is off, the vapor cools rapidly, the ionized gases recombining into their molecular state, and vapor from the evaporator 3 can and does then push its way into tube H by way of valve 5. A subsequent discharge drives this vapor into the condenser 2| as before.

The volume of gas in tube H is so quickly heated that very little heat is transmitted to the walls of the tube before the gas is forced out through valve |9. Thus the thermodynamic efiiciency is high.

The intake and outlet valves should be adapted to high speed operation so that the operation of a cycle can be rapidly completed. The valves shown are novel and accomplish the desired end but other types are also applicable. For instance, a simple light weight flap valve without tight fitting packing or accurate grinding may be used, the vapor being at low pressure. Or valves operated electromagnetically by means of the temporary flow of current in line 25 may be used as illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown in this Fig. 3, such a valve may comprise a metallic armature 6| subjected to the electromagnetic action of current in the circuit of the secondary H by providing coils 52 adjacent to the valves which coils 52 are in series with said line, as shown in said Fig. 3. The windings adjacent valve are arranged so that the valve is forced shut against the action of a. spring 67 when the current is flowing and the windings on valve |9 are arranged so that the valve is drawn open against the spring 59 when current is flowing. When current is not flowing and heating is not taking place in the tube H, the valves spring to their opposite posic-ns (valve 5 open and valve |9 closed). It is also clear that, if desired, the coils 62 may be placed in the primary circuit 25.

The pump can also consist of two stages in series as shown in Fig. 2. In this case discharges should pass through each stage alternately.

Referring to said Fig. 2, again corresponds to the tube shown in Fig. 1. This tube has the inlet valve 5. The outlet valve |9 also forms the inlet valve for a second tube 39, said tube 39 also having an outlet valve 4| leading to the condenser 2|.

The contact switch 43 in this case has one leg 45 connected to the tube H and the other leg 61 connected to the tube 39. The contacts 49 for the transformer ll of the tube II are below the level of the mercury 21 in the leg 45. On the other hand, the contacts 5| in the leg 41 are above the normal level of the mercury. That is, when pressure builds up in tube owing to energization of the transformer II, the mercury in leg 45 is depressed to break the circuit of the transformer IT. This action also raises the level of the mercury in the tube 4! to close the contacts 5| and to energize the transformer 55 which energizes the electrodes 51 and 59 of the tube 39. The resulting pressure in tube 39 depresses the mercury in leg 41 and also raises the mercury in leg 45, and the fact that the pressure in tube H has been reduced aids this result. The electrodes 51 and 59 are deenergized after a charge has been delivered to the condenser 2|.

The tube II should be about eighteen inches long and one and one-half inches in diameter for the lower pressure stage, or stage nearest the evaporator The higher pressure stage tube 39 should be about twelve inches long and one inch in diameter. The rapidity of the discharges should be as great as the speed of the valves and the rate of cooling of the gas in between discharges will permit.

The transformer supplying the current should have high leakage reactance or poor regulation as is the common practice in neon sign transformers. This permits of application of high voltage for starting and efiects a subsequent drop in voltage to prevent excessive rush of current through the apparatus.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means having an inlet and an outlet, checking means in said inlet and in said outlet, a spark gap positioned in the chamber to discharge into the fluid therein to increase its pressure, an electric circuit including said spark gap, a switch adapted to effect energization of said circuit to effect a start of a spark, said switch being responsive to a rise in the pressure in the chamber to break the circuit and being responsive to a drop in the pressure in said chamber to close the circuit.

2. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means having an inlet and an outlet, checking means in said inlet and in said outlet, a. spark gap positioned in the chamber to discharge into the fluid therein to increase its pressure, an electric circuit including said spark gap, a switch adapted to efiect energization of said circuit to efiect a start of a spark, said switch being responsive to a rise in the pressure in the chamber to break the circuit and being responsive to a drop of the pressure in said chamber to close the circuit, and a transformer in the circuit, a primary and a secondary therefor, said primary being controlled by said switch and said secondary efiecting the spark.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of chambered pumping means having inlets and outlets, the outlet of one pumping means comprising the inlet of the other whereby they are placed in series, intermittently operable electric discharge heating means for said plurality of pumping means and control means whereby heating of one pumping chamber is eifected in response to a drop of the pressure therein, said last-named means being responsive to a rise in pressure in the other pumping means of the series to stop the heating therein and vice versa.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of chambered pumping means having inlets and outlets, the outlet of one pumping means comprising the inlet of the other whereby they are placed in series, intermittently operable electric discharge heating means for said plurality of pumping means and control means whereby heating 'of one pumping chamber is effected in response to a drop of the pressure therein, said last-named means being responsive to a rise in the pressure in the other pumping means of the series to stop the heating therein and vice versa, said control means being adapted to insure alternate conditions of heating and cooling in the respective chambers.

5'. In apparatus of the class described, a pumpmg member having a chamber, means effecting unidirectional fluid flow through the chamber under conditions of pulsation therein, electrodes in the chamber, an electric circuit for energizing the electrodes to effect a spark therebetween, whereby to cause an increase of pressure of the fluid in the chamber, a switch adapted to cause energizatic-n and de-energization of the circuit, said switch comprising a manometer tube in communication with said chamber, contact fluid therein, and contacts adapted to be covered and uncovered by said fluid upon change of pressure in said chamber, said change of pressure being according to the sparking of said electrodes.

6. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means including an inlet and outlet, checking means in said inlet and said outlet, spaced electrodes positioned in the chamber adapted to subject fluid therein to an electronic discharge to increase its pressure, an electric circuit including said spaced electrodes, a switch adapted to effect energization of said circuit to effect a start of electronic discharge, said switch being responsive to a rise in the pressure in the chamber to break the circuit and being responsive to a drop in the pressure in said chamber to close the circuit.

'7. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means including an inlet and outlet, electromagnetically operated check valves in said inlet and said outlet, spaced electrodes positioned in the chamber adapted to subject fluid therein to an electronic discharge to increase its pressure, an electric circuit including said spaced electrodes and said electromagnetically operated check valves, a switch adapted to effect energization of said circuit to efiect a start of electronic discharge, and to effect operation of said electromagnetically operated check valves, said switch being responsive to a rise in the pressure in the chamber to break the circuit and being responsive to a drop in the pressure in said chamber to close the circuit.

8. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means, spaced electrodes positioned in the chamber adapted to subject fluid therein to an electronic discharge to increase its pressure, and means responsive to a drop in the pressure in the chamber to energize said spaced electrodes, and responsive to a rise in the pressure in said chamber to discontinue the energization of said electrodes.

9. In apparatus of the class described, chambered pumping means including an inlet and outlet, spaced electrodes positioned in the chamber adapted to subject fluid therein to an electronic discharge to increase its pressure, and means for operating said electrodes including checking means in said inlet and said outlet, whereby said electrodes are energized to start an electronic discharge when the pressure drops in said chamber, and said electrodes are disenergized when the pressure rises in said chamber.

JOHN A. SPENCER. 

